New financial director appointed by major livestock auctioneer

One of Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers, Lawrie & Symington, has appointed a new finance director.

Lanark born Chris Orr, a chartered accountant with over ten years’ experience working in global financial services, joins Lawrie & Symington from Tesco Bank.

He is returning to his hometown to lead the company’s budgeting and financial planning and analysis.

Mr. Orr’s appointment reinforces Lawrie & Symington’s plans to strengthen its position as the country’s premier livestock and agricultural machinery auctioneering operation.

Mr Orr graduated from Stirling University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and received his chartership in 2009. He spent several years with professional services firm RSM Tenon before joining Ernst & Young in 2011, where he had responsibility for a portfolio of large corporates in both the UK and New Zealand.

During his time at Ernst & Young, Chris was also seconded to Glasgow 2014 Ltd to manage a multi-million-pound budget during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

He said: “I grew up attending market days at Lawrie & Symington with my grandfather so am incredibly happy to have been appointed to work with the business. The mart, both here in Lanark and up in Forfar, is an important part of Scotland’s agriculture heritage and I’m pleased to be able to play my part in that story. There are some excellent opportunities for growth in the sector at the moment and I’m confident the business is well positioned to capitalise on them.”

Hamish McCall, managing director of Lawrie & Symington, added: “We’re very pleased Chris has agreed to join the business. He brings an outstanding level of knowledge to the role, including experience of foreign and global markets, and we are confident he will help us deliver the results we are seeking to achieve as a business.”

Lawrie & Symington employ 68 staff across its two sites and has an annual turnover of £3.25m. Last year, the business marked its 150th year of livestock auctioneering.